Patients’ perspective of physician associates in an acute medical unit within an English district general teaching hospital – a pilot survey study

Abstract

Physician associates (PAs) are valuable members of the medical team. However, few data are available concerning their role and contributions in acute settings from the perspective of patients. The current study explored patients' acceptance of the role of PAs in the NHS. A questionnaire was distributed to 100 patients who were under care of PAs in the acute medical unit (AMU) of George Eliot Hospital. The questionnaire explored previous exposure to PAs, satisfaction in PA's attitude and knowledge, PA value to NHS and overall satisfaction in PA profession. Fifty women (58.1%) and 36 men (41.9%) with a mean age of 74.75 ± 10 years participated in the study. Most of the survey responders stated that the attitudes , professionalism and medical knowledge of PAs were good or very good and nearly all of respondents were satisfi ed or very satisfi ed with the role of PAs in the NHS. This pilot questionnaire survey study in the AMU of an English district general teaching hospital showed that most study participants valued the role of PAs in the NHS.